Older Person Housing - Time For Investment

Is it really right that we use a linear model for 'meeting' the needs of older persons. At present we look at a flow model, Own home independent living, Life Line support, Warden Based Schemes (either on site or floating support on him and spoke model) , Extra Care and Nursing Home?

Along the way assumptions have been made, such as older persons want to remain in their own home. Well of course people do if the alternative is a small flat in a warden scheme. Every one who ant the security of older person accommodation news a warden. Housing providers need to assess who has a need for a warden base on physical need.

Well the time has come to look at wider models. Firstly we have an ageing population, couple this with hard to let older person Social Stock via RSLs and RPs and we must not forget the long term pressures on the Public Purse can only mean that older person housing must be attractive to the customer.

Northern European countries have tended to adopt the village model of Older Person Housing. The warden and even community nursing can be provided on the floating support model but equally i no required. communal garden space can flow through and easy care personal gardens are let in.

These schemes are traditionally built on a model where it has more of a village green feel than a scheme. This is best provide via Co-Housing

Co-Housing offers independent living within a loose community setting.  Members choose to live in Co-Housing because they are attracted by the opportunity to live in contact with their neighbours while at the same time retaining their independence and responsibility for their own lives. 

• The whole project - from inception, design, detailed planning, building and development, through to ongoing operation - is managed by all members themselves in a fully participative manner.  Members work together to develop and manage their project.  Co-housing allows members to maintain control over their lives and lifestyle through full involvement in running the group.
   
• Each of the 20-30 homes within the Co-Housing development is fully equipped for independent living with living area, kitchen, bedrooms, bathroom, etc. 
   
• In addition, the development provides shared facilities for leisure, business and socializing, e.g. meeting and dining areas, kitchen, workshop, office, laundry, guest rooms, storage.  These can often take the form of common rooms or a ‘common house’ - a separate building or area easily accessible to all.  The site can also include lawns, gardens and other outdoor common areas. 
   
• Although living independently, members expect to have ongoing contact with one another (e.g. social activity, informal social interaction, group business meetings).
   
• In its overall form and layout, the site is designed to facilitate social contact among members and to encourage a sense of community.
   
• The site of the Co-Housing development is not isolated:  it is located in or close to an existing town or village within easy reach of local amenities such as shops, doctor’s surgery, libraries, public transport, etc.  Regular interaction with the local community is encouraged:  members join local groups and clubs; while people from the wider community are welcomed to visit friends and to use the facilities within the Co-Housing site.

Co-Housing is not a Commune or a Co-operative.  Co-Housing has been described as ‘Living Apart Together’ in an ‘intentional community’ which combines the autonomy and privacy of the individual household with the mutual support offered through a degree of collaborative living.

The advantage of moving to a model that the customer wants is that it promotes the separation of Care and Housing, rooms are converted into homes and mixed ned can co-exist in one community. The funding starts to pan out as the options for Tenure Neutral come into play as well as the ability to change the service needs and provision of clients as their news change. For example following a winter fall a client needs 6 months of nursing home style care before returning to independence, this can be provided in the persons home rather than moving the client to another care model.

In conclusion the debate is had but always misses the truth. It is time to build on flexible models with the co-eistence of Social Care, Health and Housing putting the client at the centre to pull together the services to recognise and respect changing needs in homes people WANT to live in. If this closes nursing homes then that can only be a good outcome.

Multi need, homes for 'grey transition' villages of independent living or independent assisted living self contained separated homes are the key to looking after people through their older years.